Montessori program embraced by Englewood school

Kindergartner Casshay Bishop, 6, works on a project regarding a world map at the Montessori School of Englewood last week.

Kindergartner Casshay Bishop, 6, works on a project regarding a world map at the Montessori School of Englewood last week. (Jose M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune)

Tom Mullaney, Special to the Tribune

Executive Director Rita Nolan, her six teachers and other staff members at the Montessori School of Englewood are pioneers: In August, they launched what they say is the first full Montessori education program in the Chicago Public Schools.

Although Montessori schools are usually associated with high-achieving students living in prosperous surroundings, the Englewood school actually is more in keeping with educator Maria Montessori's original idea in the early 20th century. In 1906, educator Montessori put her teaching methods into practice with children ata school in a new housing development for low-income families in Rome. The young students, aged 3 to 7, showed remarkable concentration, deep attention and spontaneous self-discipline.

Montessori teaching seeks to instill key values for "educating the whole child," Nolan says, a combination encompassing head, hand and heart. Values such as curiosity, critical thinking, kindness and self-control. Arching over them all is a child's sense of optimism.

That means students in Montessori schools like Nolan's enjoy freedom of movement in and outside their room, their choice of what to engage in and uninterrupted work time, free from rigid class schedules. Montessori School of Englewood enrolls 90 children from 5 to 7 years old in grades K-2. A new grade will be added annually through grade 8.

Unlike the traditional CPS school day, classes at the Montessori School of Englewood run from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Learning is closely monitored with each student receiving an individualized work plan. All teachers have iPads to grade assignments and chart each student's learning targets.

With this freedom comes high expectations that students make the right choices, Nolan said. Should a student abuse unaccompanied bathroom privileges, they are revoked.

Monica Lindquist decided to enroll her son, Tyler, in kindergarten at the school because of the Montessori program. When she heard that the school was an open enrollment charter that, unlike other Montessori schools, did not charge tuition, she was sold. Lindquist had previously tried to enroll her son in six charter schools but couldn't because they were all full.

"A lot of parents don't realize how renowned Montessori is and how lucky they are," said Lindquist, who drives about a half hour to bring her son to the school from their home near Midway Airport.

Although her relatives were aghast about the school's location in Englewood, Lindquist said she was won over by the staff's welcoming attitude. "The teachers are so excited. You can tell they know what they are doing," she said, adding that she and her mother volunteer there twice a week.

Nolan and Paul Guilianelli, the school's chief academic officer, left positions at Near North Montessori School to run Montessori School of Englewood.

Nolan said she was ready for a change in her career. "I had always thought that if I made a change, it would be to serve a high-needs community," she said.

Guilianelli said he, too, wanted to serve a community that needed a lot of help.

"I was working on the wrong end of the achievement gap," he said. "If you feel you want to make a difference, I thought it necessary to go to an underserved community. I felt my time would be better spent in a situation where the upside potential is greater."

Nolan said she, her staff and CPS want to prove students in underserved areas who are taught academics and character development at an early age can realize their potential.

Guilianelli said teachers at the school can quickly see if a student is struggling and offer guidance, though not provide the answers.

Nolan said her main goal for the school's first year is to set Montessori practices in place and establish a "community of trust" with parents.

Tameka Lawson, the school's director of community engagement, works to build that trust. She acts as a resource for parents who need social services or simply encouragement in getting involved with their children's education.

There are early signs that the outreach is working. Parents are starting to visit the school more often, act as classroom aides and volunteer at school events.

Francessca Phillips enrolled both her children at the school after attending a picnic in June sponsored by the Montessori School of Englewood. Her daughter, Sorielle-Kye, entered kindergarten while her son, Dadi, is in second grade.

Phillips, who is a student at Chicago State University, said she removed Dadi from his first-grade class at a CPS elementary school because he had bad experiences.

Now, she said, both children love school.

"Montessori encourages self-discovery, freedom and independence while CPS' one size fits all spirit limits growth. They also look for feedback from parents on issues," Phillips said.